Team USA, Spain set to face off in Olympic quarterfinals
Aug 1, 2021, 10:53 AM | Updated: 11:07 am
Devin Booker #15 of Team United States congratulates his teammates following their vicory over the Czech Republic in a Men's Basketball Preliminary Round Group A game on day eight of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Saitama Super Arena on July 31, 2021 in Saitama, Japan. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Following a win over the Czech Republic Saturday morning to book a ticket to the quarterfinals, the Team USA men’s basketball team found out their next opponent nearly 24 hours later.
The men’s basketball Olympic quarterfinals draw was revealed Sunday morning, with Team USA getting a familiar foe.
Plenty of history in this one 🍿
🇺🇸 #USABMNT will meet 🇪🇸 @BaloncestoESP in the #Tokyo2020 quarterfinals on Tuesday (12:40 AM ET, Peacock)
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 1, 2021
Matched against Spain, this will mark the 13th time the countries have played in the history of the Olympics .
Team USA has a perfect 12-0 against the Spaniards, with its most recent win over them in the 2016 semifinals.
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This will be a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 team’s in the world, according to FIBA’s World Rankings.
On July 18, the two countries played in an exhibition game in Las Vegas as their final preparations for Olympic play, with Team USA beating Spain 83-76.
Quarterfinal matchups in men’s Olympic basketball:
France vs. Italy
Slovenia vs. GermanyUnited States vs. Spain
Australia vs. ArgentinaSo @usabasketball will likely have to beat Spain, AUSTRALIA and the France/Slovenia winner consecutively to win a fourth straight gold.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) August 1, 2021
The rest of the bracket was revealed, showing the road to Team USA’s fourth straight gold won’t be an easy one.
Tip-off between Team USA and Spain is scheduled for 9:40 p.m. with a trip to the semifinals on the line.
